WE’ve been big fans and supporters of Rum Bar for as long as we can remember and their ability to keep churning out quality releases is a breath of fresh air. Their passion and quality is their seal of approval and one of their best bands just happens to be Cheap Cassettes. This is a new video taken from their brand new album available Here
It’s been a while but things are seeing a return to some sort of normality as live shows pick up some steam and bands shake off the rust of a couple of years in hibernation. Bradfords New Model Army are one of those bands who’ve been actively touring the globe for forty years and some and tonight it was a first as the band rolled into the very nice surroundings of the industrial town’s theatre for a night of alternative treats and a hefty back catalogue that needed purging. It seemed fitting for New Model Army and Sullivan’s lyrics always remind me of places like Port Talbot, gritty working-class towns that keep you honest and where people have worked hard for what they have and that’s reflected in the music and lyrics to one side of the town is a magnificent view and a bay that sweeps for miles whilst the backdrop is huge foreboding mountains leading to the North pretty much as it has been for decades and decades so with this backdrop hearing ‘End Of days’ strike up the band sounded up for it and the evening’s entertainment began.
The last few years have seen the band release several epic albums that are every inch as good as their earlier commercial breakthroughs such as ‘No Rest’, ‘Thunder And Consolation’ and ‘The Ghost Of Cain’. Songs like ‘1984’ seemed poignant and could have been written in the past few months never mind decades. Keeping it current the superb ‘Never Arriving’ and ‘From Here’ played back to back sounded monumental through the excellent PA.
Those present were treated to an eighteen song set with ‘Western Dreams’ taking me right back as the bass thumped my chest But there was some great interaction from Sullivan as he introduced the songs and offered up thoughts on whats going on in Eastern Europe and how grateful he was to be back doing what he loves doing. ‘Born Ferel’ from ‘Winter’ was a welcome breath catcher.
‘Impuritys’ ‘Before I Get Old’ was reflective whilst the band stayed with the album for a run through the spikey ‘Vanity’ fitting in seamlessly alongside ‘Where I Am’ the last song played from the recent ‘From Here’.
As we hit the home straight it was back to the beginning for a blast of ‘Bittersweet’ before an epic run through ‘Angry Planet’ with its brutal power chords never seemed more apt than right now. As the band offered up a couple more thacks for the encore it was ‘Courage’ from ‘The Ghost Of Cain’ before finally bowing out with a magnificent run through the life-affirming chorus of ‘I Love The World’ rang out through the steel towns corridors. It might have taken them forty-two years to get here but it was worth the wait. Hopefully, it won’t be long before I get the pleasure of seeing the New Model Army again. Always a pleasure and never a chore and nights like this I certainly love the world!
Author: Dom Daley
The long awaited debut album from Merseyside titans in the making, The Mysterines! ‘Reeling’ is an apt title for the group, as anyone who has seen the band will know how effortlessly these guys reel off stellar material.
Kicking us all off with stomper ‘life is a bitch(but I like it so much)’ and followed up with the pummelling blow that is ‘Hung Up’. Already it’s clear that they have managed to recreate their live sound on this record, showcasing the power and intensity and losing nothing with any of the studio sheen.
Things slow down with the title track ‘reeling’ but with no loss of the intensity with the killer bass-led track. By the time we get to the previous single ‘Dangerous’, it’s practically a feeding frenzy for the listener, hitting Southern Gothic levels in terms of murder ballads, the delivery akin to PJ Harvey fronting Qotsa when they still sounded good.
My only criticism is at 13 tracks the record can seem a little bit long, but on the whole, the stronger material gives brooding shade and depth to the whole record making the whole event an experience to guarantee repeat listening.
Playling to packed out crowds on tour, big American festival dates in the diary, a top ten placing on the album charts (at time of writing), things are certainly looking up for the Mysterines and the future is very bright.
Buy Here
Author: Dan Kasm
How about every Monday from here until RSD 2022 we look at a few release we highly recommend you try and pick up. first up is the RSD exclusive from Jo Dog & Paul Black’s Sonic Boom and ‘Everybody Rains On My Parade’ available on Black City Records.
‘Everybody Rains On My Parade’ will be released on CD, 180gm vinyl and via all digital / streaming sites on May 13, 2022. But A special red vinyl version will also be on sale for Record Store Day on April 22.
With Sonic Boom, the duo have locked into a songwriting groove that effortlessly blends their diverse backgrounds into a cohesive whole.
The 12-track album displays a deep affection for the British rockers who reinterpreted American Blues for stadiums full of young rock ’n’ roll fans. The Rolling Stones and the Faces loom large as spiritual godfathers, with the grit and authenticity of the Delta Blues masters at the foundation. The songs roll by, distilling the essence of various aspects of these influences into a concise love letter to the rock ‘n’ roll world… as if the great double albums of all time have been compressed into a lean, single disc. Pieces of ‘Exile On Main Street’ are grafted onto bits of Dyan’s ‘Blonde On Blonde’, while the ambition Of ‘The White Album’ collides with the perfectly restrained power of The Allman Brothers ‘Live At Fillmore East’. The title track, ‘Everybody Rains On My Parade’ is an instant classic with lyrics that casually dismiss critics and naysayers with an undeniable pop flourish. The rest of the track list sparkles with gems like the uplifting ‘Tree For Shade’, and the infectious ‘Up For The Late Show’. Elsewhere the epic ‘Blue Like the Morning’ creates a vivid mood that is almost cinematic in scope while ‘Jesus Drives A School Bus’ is a classic blues rocker.
Produced by Gabe Lowry at Fox Force Studios, in Hollywood, California, the album boasts an irresistible muscular swagger balanced with the laid back hip-swing of the coolest records in your collection. Gabe shares additional recording credit on the album with Muddy Stardust. In addition to his work on the production side of the album, Muddy (Burning Tree, Chris Robinson Band) also joins Jo and Paul on bass, keyboards & vocals with Dennis Morehouse (Gilby Clarke) on drums, Tony Snow (Dramarama) on percussion and backing vocals, Chris Joyner (Soul Asylum, Wallflowers) on keyboards, and bassist Tony Babylon (Izzy Stradlin Band, Sylvain Sylvain) rounding out the band.
As well as Sonic Boom, Jo is also working on the debut album from Jo Dog & The Desperados – a trio featuring Jo and his former Dogs D’Amour hounds Steve James and Bam.
PRE-ORDER LINKS –
https://jdpbsonicboom.myshopify.com/
https://jodogandpaulblacksonicboom.bandcamp.com/
Secondly, we recommend you hunt down a copy of Joan Jett – ‘Acoustics’. Available exclusively in stores on Saturday 23rd April 2022. Acoustics is the first-ever acoustic vinyl release from Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. It’s an eight-song collection that includes five newly recorded acoustic tracks from upcoming double-LP ‘Changeup’ plus 3 previously unreleased acoustics exclusive to this Record Store Day piece only, including hits ‘I Hate Myself For Loving You’ and ‘Bad Reputation’ (Live In Los Angeles). ‘Changeup’ features twenty-five tracks.
Hit up the website for Summer tour details Here
Black Bombers – ‘Last Bite’ (Easy Action) there is an air of confidence and an overwhelming sense of quality when the guitar chimes in on this new single from Birmingham’s finest. Channeling the spirit of Stivs Lords and the cool of Killing Joke with its howling guitars and haunting rhythm it’s a smoldering smokestack of a tune and as it reaches the guitar solo, it gives you goosebumps as the band reaches the climax before dropping back into the groove on what is a most excellent single. It’s taken a while to reach your turntables due to covid but this one has had a couple of years to ferment into this beast of noise. Flip it over and you get treated to a rather splendid version of ‘Take My Money’ from the Damned criminally overlooked second album ‘Music For Pleasure’. What a killer tune ‘Last Bite’ is and thats why its the pick of the pops for the month no question about it! Cool tunes and cool artwork – if only all 7″ singles were this good. Buy Here
Buzzcocks – ‘Senses Out Of Control’ (Cherry Red Records) The songs to emerge from the post-Shelley Buzzcocks are creeping out after the covid hibernation and ‘Senses Out Of Control’ is a lovely slice of Diggle fire and brimstone. Uptempo and out of control as Diggle fires up the telecaster and smashes the chords out of the speakers for what is your typical Diggle Buzzers tune (effectively) I’m not going to debate the should it be released under the Buzzcocks banner or not but I will say it pretty bloody decent to be fair. Live it will sound punchy and brutal but there is a huge Shelley-shaped hole happening. The B sides to this lovely 10″ record also feature the tracks ‘Carnival Of Illusion’ that tackles cancel culture in a more measured track. But the diamond in the rough here is the excellent ‘Hope Heaven Loves You’ with a great meandering guitar line. Sure to become a collector’s piece these two tracks won’t be on the album when it’s released this summer so fill yer boots. Buy Here
Suzi Moon – ‘Animal’ (Pirates Press Records) Hot on the heels of her debut EP Suzi Moon unleashes ‘Animal’ her latest EP on Pirates PRess and this time it rips out of the blocks with the super turbocharged ‘Sonic Attraction’. Her debut album ‘Dumb & In Luv’ is due this summer and if this trio of tunes is anything to go by then it’s going to be an absolute blast. the title track is a brooding, twisting, rhythm meandering along before the guitars crash in on the chorus when Moon declares she’s a fucking animal you better believe it. To wrap up this EP Moon indulges some power pop tinged punk rock on ‘Gold Record Autograph’ its another string to her bow. With a vibrant melody, the chorus is fuckin’ excellent and like a bubble gummed chorus Moon knows shes is onto something, and surely it’s only a matter of time before she sells out venues globally and she’ll have her very own Gold Record. Get it here
Flickertail – ‘Don’t You Let Me (Let You Down)‘ (Golden Robot Records) Irish Aussie rockers FLICKERTAIL release new single ‘Don’t You Let Me (Let You Down’ on 29th March, out on Golden Robot Records. lifted from the upcoming live EP ‘Afterlife‘, which is slated for release mid-year. The track features sizzling guitars, high-paced lyrics about parties and poor decisions and a balls-to-the-wall drum solo that could make John Bonham blush.Pre-order/add/save ‘Don’t You Let Me (Let You Down)’ HERE
Chuck Norris Experiment – ‘Where Eagles Dare’ (Self Release) By no means a new tune but a new version from the mighty CNE as they lay into the Misfits classic. CNE gets the tempo and rawness of the song and capture it perfectly. Free Rock n Fucking Roll – yes please. Fill yer boots and if you already haven’t got yourself on board this is the perfect opportunity. Get it Here
WolfWolf & The Tuzemak Orchestra – ‘Monster’ (Lux Noise Records) For fans of the Bop n stroll Blues rock n roll of Urban Voodoo Machine, Wolf Wolf make an impressive mind-bending noise on this new single ‘Monster’ where they team up with The Tuzemak Orchestra: https://www.wolfwolfband.com
J Prozac – ‘Building Blocks’ (Rum Bar Records) Another band rolls off the Rum Bar conveyer belt and onto our stereos. This time its heart-worn sleeve heartland punk & garage rock from J Prozac. while still keeping the big hearted ‘whoa ohs’, snotty vocals and powerful punk rock guitar riffs of his former bands in check. It’s a memoir, diary, and photo book of lost but not forgotten moments, anthemic pop-punk lifted from the new album ‘Building Blocks’ is punk rock with a smile. Get the album Here
The Brokendolls – ‘The Only’ (Lux Noise Records) Lifted from the bands upcoming album ‘Snakecharmer’ Hard Rocking Punk N Roll sees the Brokendolls impress and march to the top of the pile giving the likes of Backyard Babies a run for their money with this new track. If the rest of the album can live up to these expectations then it promises to be a belter!
These Arms Are Snakes – ‘Camera Shy’ (Suicide Squeeze Records) US hardcore gents These Arms Are Snakes have announced a new rarities album called ‘Duct Tape & Shivering Crows’ which will be released April 15th so they have this video for the first single.
Ultrabomb – ‘Star’ (Ultrabomb Records) Greg Norton, once the driving force behind one of the most influential bands to emerge from the American punk scene, Hüsker Dü, alongside Finny McConnell, a name you’ll recognise from thirty years as the frontman of the Canadian Irish folk-punk sensation The Mahones. Completing the trio is the drumming powerhouse Jamie Oliver, having served well over fifteen years in the seminal British punk band UK Subs, as well as shorter stints with the likes of SNFU among others. Written for the singer’s daughter this is quality alternative punk rock. this second single has hints of Early Buffalo Tom and The Replacements which is always a good thing. With an album out soon the future looks written for Ultrabomb. Buy Here
Rough Gutts – ‘Control’ (Boss Tunage) From the ashes of Rotten Foxes Rough Gutts have only gone and made a record and if this video is anything to go by the Brighton rockers are gonna blow away everyone in 2022. Tour dates and a record out of control punk rock n fuckin roll is back in business and Rough Gutts are gonna rule – get on it kids before they’re all gone.
Buy Here
The Lickerish Quartet – ‘ Fortunately’ (Stranger Danger Records) The first song from Threesome Vol. 3, ‘Fortunately’ is Set for release May 20 on Stranger Danger Records and Tapes, distributed by Burnside and the Orchard in the U.S. and by Lojinx in the U.K. and Europe. Sony Japan recently partnered with THE LICKERISH QUARTET to release all three EPs on June 29, as a collection entitled ‘FABLES FROM FEARLESS HEIGHTS’, which will include two previously unheard cover songs, as well as a special “best of” vinyl LP in that region. Pre-orders can be found Here
The SoapGirls – ‘Breathe’ The SoapGirls consist of French-born, South African-raised sisters Noemie Debray (Mie) (guitar, vocals) & Camille Debray (Mille) (bass guitar, vocals) The fearless siblings began their music career as child street performers at ages 8 and 9, roaming the streets of Cape Town singing whilst selling handmade soap for charity, earning the name ‘The SoapGirls’. ‘Breathe’ is the first single from soon to be released 4th album ‘In My Skin’. It’s a load of energy with the uncompromising style and attitude & all the excessive, debauched live shows have paid dividends. The pair have gained quite a reputation through their live shows such as Rebellion & Camden Rocks.
You can catch the pair as Their Don’t Give A Damn tour kicks off in the UK in April at Nambucca on the 15th before heading to Europe, followed by the US in July & Japan in August.
It was only the other day that I was listening to Rocket From The Crypt in the car. Shortly after, who should recommend the new solo album by Speedo/John Reis but our very own Mr Hayward. After listening on Spotify, I duly ordered the vinyl (no CD yet). It’s a no-brainer to any RFTC fans that this is a worthy purchase. From the first song, I was hooked. There’s a Liamesque delivery to the title track, but Mr Gallagher can’t hold a candle to these tunes. And, believe me, this album is packed with tunes.
‘I Ain’t Your Pawn’ struts like Jim Jones with guitar and piano hammering out the riff. It would be a shame if Reis didn’t play some gigs to support this release. ‘Do You Still Wanna Make Out?’, with its “shoo-wop” backing vocals and insistent rhythm would give Giuda a run for their money.
‘When I Kicked Him In The Face’ starts with a picked riff reminiscent of Elliott Smith, before launching into more familiar territory. ‘Days Of Auld Lang Syne’ ends side one with a breezy piano led tune with a reflective lyric.
‘I Hate My Neighbours In The Yellow House’ starts with a synth before the guitars kick in. While there’s a variety of songs here, it always sounds reassuringly like John Reis. ‘Vape In The Dark Alone’ is more akin to ‘Group Sounds’ with its sinister melody.
‘Rip From The Bone’ is killer, it makes you want to pick up the guitar and play along, head nodding. Simple and devastatingly effective. “We don’t see eye to eye, said the spider to the fly”. ‘We Broke The News’ is equally addictive, and ‘Keeper Of The Plains’ is a classy note to end on. As you’d expect. And it’s on transparent, mouthwash green vinyl. What are you waiting for?
Buy Here
Author: Martin Chamarette
SUPPORTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE LONG-AWAITED STADIUM TOUR INCLUDING SPECIAL GUESTS PLACEBO AT SELECT DATES. OTHER ACTS INCLUDE FRANK TRUNER, BARNS COURTNEY, AVIVA & MORE
New Jersey rock band My Chemical Romance has announced an array of supports for their long-awaited UK stadium tour this May.
The tour which is presented by SJM concerts and Paradigm will see the band play to over 160,000 fans across 8 shows, their first on our shores since headlining Reading & Leeds festival in 2011.
Supporting the band on select shows will be 9 artists including British legends Placebo who have today released a long awaited new album “Never Let Me Go”, punk troubadour Frank Turner, grit pop artist Cassyette, LA rock band Starcrawler,dark pop rock artist AViVA, the soulful rock n roll of Barns Courtney,
re-formed rock band LostAlone, US pop rock powerhouse Charlotte Sands andsassy alt rock band Crawlers.
My Chemical Romance UK tour dates & full supports below.
16th May – Eden Sessions, St. Austell, Cornwall
Plus Frank Turner Tickets
17th May – Eden Sessions, St. Austell, Cornwall SOLD OUT
Plus Lost Alone
19th May – MK Dons Stadium, Milton Keynes
Plus special guest Placebo, Lost Alone, Aviva Tickets
21st May – MK Dons Stadium, Milton Keynes
Plus special guest Placebo, Barns Courtney, Cassyette Tickets
22nd May – MK Dons Stadium, Milton Keynes
Plus special guest Placebo, Starcrawler, Charlotte Sands Tickets
27th May – Victoria Park, Warrington
Plus Frank Turner, Starcrawler, Crawlers Tickets
28th May – Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Plus Special guests to be announced, Starcrawler, Lost Alone Tickets
30th May – OVO Hydro, Glasgow SOLD OUT
Plus Starcrawler
www.mychemicalromance.com
www.gigsandtours.com
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
It’s been a long time coming but it’s good to be back. Now, where have I heard that line before? Many moons ago the good people at The Alarm HQ had a plan to celebrate 40 years of The Alarm and Mike Peters by having a couple of shows on consecutive nights in Rhyl Town Hall the birthplace of The Gathering (a yearly weekend of all things Mike Peters & the Alarm for the past twenty-Five years) sadly due to Covid and the past few years of uncertainty the celebrations were put on hold with the Rhyl shows and one at St David’s Hall Cardiff getting shelved until further notice.
Initially, these three shows which sold out in a matter of minutes were put off due to the Global Pandemic. They were rearranged but again the Cardiff celebration was put off into the distant future of 2023 but thankfully the Rhyl weekender was upon us. The Gathering has seen several venue changes over the years and after the first two were in Rhyl it grew to something altogether bigger and was decamped further up the A55 to the seaside resort of Llandudno and the spacious Venue Cymru. After a few years of being in the prisoner of war camp that is the hell hole known as Pontins Prestatyn it made a welcome return to Llandudno before returning to its spiritual roots of Rhyl Town Hall and the compact surroundings of this forgotten seaside town and Peters hometown, a stone throw from where he was brought up. We took our seats as the doors opened and the stage set on the floor of the hall rather than the traditional raised stage it was deemed more intimate for the lucky few hundred who were gathered for what promised to be a mammoth run through forty years of music from Peters. No drums, Bass, electric guitar or piano just one man a few mics and a lifetime of music. Friday night and it’s the present running backwards to 2010 and Peters looks like a man who means business and it was headlong into the music with ‘Two Rivers’ from his latest studio album ‘Sigma’. There was to be a further twenty one songs dispatched from Peters before a welcome interval and an end to the first act it was a hectic flurry of songs from the excellent ‘Heroine’ to ‘Direct Action’ via ‘Coming Backwards’ and ‘Peace Now’ there wasn’t time for any introductions or stories just on with the show with a really impressive run through some deep cuts from his most recent decade.
It was Steven Tyler who once said “Let The music do the talking” and Mike Peters was certainly on top of his memo to play as many tunes as humanly possible. I’ve seen Mike Peters play live well over a hundred times and it’s often the deep cuts that excite me the most. Sure I love ’68 Guns’ and ‘Strength’ and ‘Spirit Of 76’ and ‘New South Wales’ but I love hearing my favourite artists create new music as well and keep pushing themselves especially when I’m on board the journey and tonight is proving to be some journey.
For me the 2000’s was a prolific time for Peters when he wrote some of his finest work be it The Poppyfield collective or the 2008 Counter Attack collective. The band he was working with were pushing him to be the best writer he possibly could be and it was paying dividends and us the fans were reaping the rewards. ‘Superchannel’ whilst being such a force electrically is still a powerhouse acoustically as tonight’s audience buys into the set. ‘My Town’, ‘Edward Henry Street’ and ‘Mercenery Skank’ are given some serious attention and the floor is a shaking.
With the twenty two song second half reaching a climax with the excellent single ‘Close’ followed by the controversial ruse of ’45 RPM’ it was the end of the first night and a really excellent night’s entertainment. To hold an audience for three and a half hours on a Friday night is some achievement but tonight Mike Peters did it with consummate ease and it seemed everyone was now well up for the Saturday night and a delve further into the catalogue.
I must admit I tend to opt out of the Saturdays daytime extravaganza but if you want to immerse yourself in all things Mike Peters they opened up the Hall for a film ’50 Days In Lockdown’ and Peters had time to pose for photos and sign records before a Q&A with the man took place. The team at the MPO do give fans access that many other bands wouldn’t dream of and after all is said and done, if you’ve travelled from afar or just down the road then it’s a pretty impressive experience.
Saturday night was upon us and the fresh breeze outside was forgotten come eight PM as Peters took to the stage for 1999 to 1992 and it was the same format as the previous night where there was no interaction between songs just on with the business of the music and ‘Flesh And Blood’s ‘House Of Commons’ brought memories of being in the studio at BBC in Cardiff whilst that particular album was being made and memories certainly did come flooding back. It was now the turn of ‘Rise’ ‘Feel Free’ and the time when Peters emerged from the fall out of the Alarm split and taking the poets on an exciting journey as ‘Back Into The System’, ‘Feel Free”, ‘My Calling’ and ‘Gone Elvis’ were played. As Peters played ‘Train A Comin’ you could have heard a pin drop as the entire audience was silent with respect for the music and the journey we were on it was awe inspiring and a real moment even after all these years of watching this man play many of these songs all over the country and beyond.
As we headed into the home straight and the beautiful nineteen eighties and when many of us began our love for these works and when Mike Peters entered most of our lives and record collections it is probably many of these songs we did a lot of first to and why they are held with such high regard in our lives and soundtrack so much of who and what we’ve become. It was a privilige to be part of such a great weekend. ‘Moments In Time’ from ‘Raw’ began a whirlwind blast through the original line ups repetoir as ‘Rocking In The Free World’ took my mind back to Brixton and the tanned fringed coat there was even an out of time run through ‘Merry Xmas War Is Over’ which brought a broad grin across Peters face ‘Rivers To Cross’ was a welcome old friend as was ‘Day The Raven Left The Tower’ and the first time I heard ‘Majority’ from the Marquee club came racing back to me, so many venues, so many memories. Inside the young man I once was – was smiling that I still have the opportunity to hear these songs live and have had the pleasure of doing so on so many occasions. The fact that tonight’s performance was four hours long sounds epic because it was epic. It flew by, I honestly thought that I’d have to go into training to get through it but as the songs were unfolding I didn’t want it to end and could do it all over again on any given weekend.
The encores went right back, predominantly featuring the ‘Declaration’ period songs with ’68 Guns’, ‘Where Were You Hiding’ sung with as much verve and energy as the day they were written it seemed. Then the second encore hit us with ‘The Stand’ and ‘Marching On’ hit with the realisation that we were reaching the end of an incredible evening of music. It only left ‘Up For Murder’ before finally bowing out with a raucous ‘The Stand’. Peters took the ovation he richly deserved and a couple of hundred people filed out into the cold North Wales night with yet more memories of a Gathering that was a while in the waiting but oh so well worth it when it arrived. Bring on 2023 and back to Llandudno for another Gathering and that much overdue performance in St David Hall Cardiff. Going out in a blaze of glory our hands were held up high! Brilliant life affirming rock and roll, I love it!
Author: Dom Daley
London’s Lost Music Venues Vol 2 has been lovingly put together by author Paul Talling. In this follow-up volume Paul focuses on London’s larger theatre size venues. The book is released on June 23rd and is available to pre-order now via your local bookshop, Amazon, Rough Trade or direct from us.
There will be a launch event for the book at London’s Rough Trade East on Tuesday 28th June, featuring Q&A/signing with Paul Talling and a live performance by the wonderful Mr TV Smith.
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM DICE HERE https://link.dice.fm/ydbba4525f5d
BOOK SIGNING AND Q&A WITH PAUL TALLING PLUS LIVE SET FROM TV SMITH TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE:
Damaged Goods Books are proud to announce ‘London’s Lost Music Venues 2’, available this coming June 23rd, the second volume of the photographic guide to the iconic lost live music venues of London, as they are today.
The first volume, issued in 2020 during the initial lockdown at a time when the music world began to seriously wonder how any venues were going to survive the pandemic, featured over 100 lost smaller venues from all over London. The very real fear throughout the pandemic was that the planned second volume would be even larger as the venues in the capital feared for their futures, but thankfully as we (hopefully) come through the other side of the pandemic, almost all have survived and live music has once again exploded across London. This second volume, then, features over 140 venues from the past, focusing on the larger halls and theatres of London’s musical heyday.
Did you dance the night away at the Hammersmith Palais? Queue outside the Rainbow theatre to see The Jam or The Osmonds? Or jive along to rock ‘n’ roll legends at the Cellar Club in Kingston? Then this is another book is for you! Paul Talling, author of ‘London’s Lost Music Venues 1’, ‘Derelict London’ & ‘London’s Lost Rivers’ returns his attention to the lost music venues of London.
This time round he focusses on the larger, theatre sized venues as well as a few smaller venues not included in the first volume plus some more recent losses. This book takes a look at some of the iconic venues of the last 60 years with images, flyers and modern-day photos of what they are now, with 292 pages with full colour photos throughout.
Venues include Hammersmith Palais, The Rainbow, The Astoria, The Borderline, The Lyceum and many more. Featuring photos, adverts & tickets, this book is a reminder of a less homogenised London, taking you back to the city’s halcyon days of Rock N Roll, Jazz, Blues, Folk, Rock, Punk, Indie and more.
The unveiling of ‘London’s Lost Music Venues 2’ will also be celebrated on June 28th with a special launch party at Rough Trade East featuring an acoustic set from The Adverts legend and musical troubadour TV Smith, plus a book signing and Q&A with Paul Talling and more. Tickets available HERE:
Paul Talling’s first book of Lost Venues was warmly received with large features in The Observer, The Guardian, Mojo, The Times & more. Paul also has two other very successful books out via Random House called ‘All New Derelict London’ and ‘London’s Lost Rivers’, he appears regularly on BBC London, BBC 6MUSIC and has made many TV appearances.
Pre-order ‘London’s Lost Music Venues 2’ HERE:
‘Murder The Summer Of Love’ is the first new video from Michael Monroe due for release this summer 2022 after an extended hiatus but the wait is gonna be worth it as pre sales go up for vinyl, Cassette and CD bundles with UK postage for those on plague island Pick up a copy Here
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